Arizona Commerce Authority Announces New Recipients of its Rural Economic Development Program Award

PHOENIX, AZ (April 7, 2015) — The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced that the Town of Sahuarita, City of Williams and City of Winslow are recipients of its annual Rural Economic Development Grant (REDG), a competitive program focused on improving infrastructure that will attract high-wage industry to Arizona’s rural communities.

In total, fiscal year 2015 REDG second-round recipient communities will use awards for infrastructure projects that have three-year projected outcomes including: 393 new jobs, 60 retained jobs and capital investments of $41,700,000.

“Our REDG program promotes collaboration between private sector businesses and rural communities to leverage capital investment for planned infrastructure projects that are vital for economic development in these areas,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “Improving infrastructure in rural Arizona supports base-industry employer growth, while strengthening the long-term capacity and competitiveness of local economies across the state.”

FY2015 REDG Round 2 Recipient Communities/Projects:

Town of Sahuarita: Awarded for a gravity sewer line extension project to convey water 3,330 linear feet to the Town Center Commerce Park.

City of Williams: Awarded for an electrical power distribution line project supporting the full build out of two major wood processing facilities.

City of Winslow: Awarded for an industrial gas line extension project to increase the capacity of natural gas flow to more than 1,000 contiguous acres of industrial land.

“As a direct result of the REDG award, the Town of Sahuarita will be able to construct the sewer-line extension to the Town Commerce Park and establish the first planned commerce park in Sahuarita,” said Mayor Duane Blumberg. “The 16-acre site will be an attractive development-ready option for local business expansions as well as other firms that seek to locate in Sahuarita. With the ACA’s assistance, we will now be an ideal location for industry growth along the Interstate 19 corridor in Southern Arizona and for companies that want to be in close proximity to the Arizona-Mexico border.”

“With the help of the ACA, The City of Williams will finally be able to reclaim its long, proud history of timber milling,” said Mayor John Moore. “The electric line funded by this project will allow several sawmills to begin or expand operations, bringing many desperately needed, well-paying manufacturing jobs and significant capital investment to Williams.”

Mayor Moore added that the mills will play critical roles in the 4FRI project that is so important to the future of Northern Arizona. Long term, this project will facilitate future economic development and diversification in Williams. “Without the ACA’s support of rural economic development, projects like this would be impossible and building our rural communities would be that much harder,” he said.

“The City of Winslow has 1,000 acres of prime industrial property that has generated interest from a variety of companies in the past, and although we have plenty of water and electricity, it has been cost prohibitive for the city or companies to provide natural gas to the area,” said Mayor Robin Boyd. “The ACA has now greatly increased the likelihood that we will be able to bring in viable industry to our city. Winslow and the entire region will reap the benefits that come with economic growth. We thank the ACA for making a difference in rural Arizona.”

Now in its fifth year, the REDG program awards up to $3 million annually to eligible rural communities and Native American tribes that demonstrate the most immediate potential to create new quality jobs, retain existing quality jobs and stimulate private capital investment.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visitazcommerce.comand follow the ACA on Twitter at@azcommerce.